Update 4/24/2024: Hey so for any new readers discovering this fic, the first seven chapters are the unfinished beta version and they just haven't been deleted/moved yet. Skip to chapter 8 for the current version which I will be updating from here on out.


Finn's trying not to think about it. The oil rig at night, the sound of static being the only response from Leland's commlink, the two thugs dragging him out, beaten half to death…

But it's been on his mind nonstop. Haunting him. All his dreams these days are about Leland, every thought in the very little free time he gets while on missions…

The mission. That's right. He's supposed to be meeting with an agent from the Tokyo station tonight, at the World Grand Prix's kickoff party.

Normally, Finn loves his job. It's like a boyhood fantasy -and Finn is still young at heart, he'd like to think- come to life, international secret agent. Like James Bond.

But he just wants this over with so he can be at Leland's side. He's in a coma, they beat him so badly. Finn's no stranger to torture, but this feels… different. Like they were personally angry towards Leland. Anyone can shoot a person -if you don't think you can, watch out, you'll surprise yourself- but beating someone? That takes a certain kind of rage to have inside you. It was almost animalistic. Finn can still see Leland's battered, nearly unrecognizable face when he closes his eyes.

Friendships are dangerous in their line of work, and fraternization is not allowed.

But oh, the two fraternized, alright. They've been "partners" in more ways than one, all the way back since 1990, that one night in Hong Kong…

He misses Leland terribly. If he was here with Finn right now, they'd be having a great time -yes, he means it in that way, but also in general, too. They'd probably be out seeing Tokyo right now, actually. And Leland would be making jokes, chatting up the locals -he was always more extroverted than Finn, and infiltration was his specialty.

Finn lies back on the bed, sighing. Several more hours to sit here and think of Leland. He wonders if he was scared -even the most hardened field agents get scared sometimes. "You're never more alive than when you're almost dead", Finn always liked to put it.

Leland must be very alive right now, then. Finn sighs once more. He wishes that at the very least, he could fast-forward to the party tonight, something to give him a distraction…

Finn takes out his phone, clicks on WhatsApp. He uses this for strictly personal matters, of course -like how he drives a black Volvo 740 in his day to day life.

The CHROME quartermaster, Quinn, has been visiting Leland in the hospital while Finn is on this mission. They've been working together for so long, the three of them. Finn scrolls through the messages, a lot of "how is Leland" from his end. And Quinn asking if there's anything he can do. Finn told him to play music for Leland, New Order, Siouxsie and the Banshees, that sort of thing. Quinn sent him video of him doing exactly that, with the sound of beeping from all the machines trying to fight for supremacy. He's been video calling Quinn so he can talk to Leland. He never gets a response back, but Leland is still his closest confidant.

Quinn doesn't know about the relationship between Finn and Leland, so there are certain things Finn can't say over the phone, like "I love you".

He can't wait to see Leland in person, so he can say all the things he's been holding back doing it through Quinn. He just has to get through this mission.

The mission, that's right. Focus, Finn, focus. A good field agent wouldn't let his personal life get in the way, even if the two have been bleeding together for a very long time. All he has to do is get through this mission, not get killed, and as a bonus, get to avenge Leland -the only part of this mission he's looking forward to besides getting it over with.

Just one thing at a time, Finn, one thing at a time. He looks at the time on his phone -barely any has passed. Still several more hours to go.

One thing at a time.